If there is one adage you will hear over and over again from today’s successful online entrepreneurs, it’s this: build an e-mail list! You will hear this drum beat so often because it holds the clear ring of truth.
Building an e-mail list has never been more critical to online success. Especially when considering the current economic climate, building a list provides you with a qualified target audience who already understands what you are offering and who have already agreed to either purchase or download something from you for in the past.
In short, an e-mail list gives you access to your prospect’s inbox: by far the easiest place to sell to an online customer.
Not only a silver bullet to help you get more buyers, an e-mail autoresponder is also an amazing bang for the buck with a bottom line cost of only pennies per person to reach everyone on your list.
There is, however, a right and a wrong way to build a list. Build a list with intelligence and you will be reaping the benefits for years to come, build it poorly and you will only be erecting walls around your progress.
Follow these tips to start and manage your email campaigns as effectively as possible.
1. Get permission first
E-mail is different from all other kinds of marketing. When you get junk mail at home, all those senders required was a working address. But when it comes to someone’s inbox, you need permission first, unless you want to be considered a spammer (you don’t!). In general, people do not open e-mail from people they don’t know. In addition, only opt in or permission-based e-mails are sure to get past the spam filters which seem to get stronger every day.
2. You have permission, now use it
When someone provides you with permission to e-mail them, send that first communication as quickly as possible. This is a terrific time to send them the free gift promised on your website, whether it is a free ebook or perhaps an email course. Don’t send a sales letter. At this point you just want to remind them who you are so you won’t seem like a stranger when you contact them later. Make your first contact warm and friendly, while also reminding them why they signed up in the first place.
3. Use double opt-in only
Many e-mail marketers swear by the single opt-in autoresponder, but the smart businessman knows it is double opt-in that is truly best. No one is on a double opt-in list by accident. This is because they had to verify the communication themselves. This means that your messages will most likely get through all spam filters. The worst thing that can happen if you’re making money through e-mail marketing is to get considered a spammer. Your files could get deleted, virtually putting you out of business from one day to the next. Protect yourself from the beginning with a double opt-in only.
The modern entrepreneur cannot afford to be shy when it comes to gathering email addresses. Share your expertise and do it through email. Turn leads into clients, clients into raving fans and raving fans into more money than you can spend.
Bonus: Bootstrapping Autoresponder Tip
Usually autoresponders can get quite pricey for a bootstrapping entrepreneur, but having a well built and well engaged list is invaluable. There is a great service from MailChimp that is FREE up to 500 subscribers. With this solution, you can send up to 3,000 emails per month and you can get an opt-in box on your page to start building your list today!
